Evaluation of the effect of a preventive program of musculoskeletal injuries in elite beach volleyball players

Abstract

Introduction: The beach volleyball has increased its number of practitioners and injury prevention programs become increasingly needed. Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a preventive program of musculoskeletal injuries in elite players of beach volleyball. Methods: This is a case series study in professional players of the Brazilian beach volleyball team, between 15 and 20 years old. The intervention program was performed for 12 weeks, including exercises for the joint complex of the shoulder and lower limbs. Outcome measures were the severity of the injury (determined by means of the training withdrawal time) and functional tests for glenohumeral rotation (measured by goniometry), dynamic knee valgus analysis (by means of the Step Down Test) and the posterior chain flexibility (measured at Wells` Bench). The pre- and post-intervention outcome was compared by the Wilcoxon signed rank test due to the non-parametric distribution of the outcome variables. Results: Seventeen athletes (9 men and 8 women) participated in the program. There was a minimal incidence of injury (1.37 / 1000 hours). The prevention program increased the range of motion of the left shoulder internal rotation (median before = 80º versus median after = 86º, p = 0.024). The other outcomes of the study did not present significant differences. Conclusion: The preventive program performed showed a low injury rate. Functional tests did not show a significant improvement in the post-intervention evaluation.